Wheel assembly for vacuum cleaner



Aug. 1967 v N. c. COATE S ETAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR VACUUM CLEANER FiledSept. 7, 1965 llll/ w ll I INVENTORS. Nellgh C. Coofes J0 hn R.Hare/erode United States Patent WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR VACUUM CLEANER NelighC. Coates, Mission Hills, and John R. Harclerode,

Prairie Village, Kans., assignors to Clipper Manufacturing Company,Inc., Grandview, Mo., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 7,1965, Ser. No. 485,309 4 Claims. (Cl. 354) .This invention relates tothe provision of structure for permitting coupling of the forwardsupport wheels of a vacuum cleaner so that they may be positionedforwardly, rearwardly or laterally of the nozzle structure of thevacuum.

It is the primary object of the instant invention to provide a wheelassembly for a vacuum cleaner wherein the positions of the wheel unitsthereof supporting the nozzle portion of the vacuum may be easilychanged to enhance the versatility and utility of the vacuum cleaner.

It is another important object of this invention to provide supportstructure capable of adapting an industrial vacuum cleaner to insideuses where mobility is relatively restricted due to machinery and thelike while also providing for optimum outside use over relatively roughsurfaces.

An important object of our present invention is to incorporate theaforesaid advantages in a wheel assembly for a vacuum cleaner, while atthe same time providing mechanism for height adjustment of the Vacuumwith respect to the surface to be cleaned for picking up various typesof material and protecting the nozzle structure from damage on roughsurfaces.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a wheelassembly of the aforementioned character which includes readilyreleasable structure for easily shifting the wheel units to theirvarious operative positions and for positively locking the same againstrotation when the units are in predetermined positions.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a vacuum cleanershowing a wheel assembly made pursuant to our present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the vacuum cleaner showing theforward and rearward operating positions of a wheel unit in dashedlines;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the vacuum cleanershowing the forward position of a wheel unit in full lines and therearward position thereof in dashed lines; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG.2.

The present invention is primarily designed for use with a heavy-duty,industrial vacuum cleaner broadly designated by the reference numeral 10and shown fragmentarily in the drawing. Vacuum cleaner 10 includes aframe 12 having a fan housing 14 at its forward end, fan housing 14terminating in a downwardly and forwardly extending, transverselyelongated nozzle 16, Support means for vacuum cleaner 10 includes a pairof rear wheel and axle assemblies 18 mounted on frame 12, and a pair ofcaster unit assemblies 20 embodying the principles of this invention.Assemblies 20 are mounted on nozzle 16 adjacent each outermost andforwardmost end respectively of the nozzle.

Each caster unit 20 includes an upstanding square post 22 rigidlysecured to nozzle 16 at a point near the respective outer edge of thenozzle. A projection 24 extends outwardly from the upright surface andintermediate the ends of post 22. A transversely extending cotter keyopening 26 is provided near the uppermost end of post 22.

A generally Z-shaped arm 28 extends laterally from post 22 and isattached thereto by releasable structure in 3,336,623 Patented Aug. 22,1967 the form of a square sleeve 30 rigidly secured to one end 32 of arm28. The inner surfaces of sleeve 30 complementally engage the outersurfaces of post 22 as sleeve 30 is telescoped over post 22. Thelongitudinal length of sleeve 30 is substantially equal to the distancebetween projection 24 and cotter key opening 26 whereby sleeve 30 may belocked on post 22 by telescoping the same downwardly thereon until thelower edge of sleeve 30 abuts projection 24. A cotter key 34 is theninstalled through opening 26.

An upstanding, screw-threaded standard 36 is secured to the outermostend 38 of arm 28 by releasable mechanism, generally designated by thenumeral 40. Mechanism 40 includes a primary nut 42 rigidly secured toarm 28 at its outermost end '38 and threadably engaging standard 36.Releasable mechanism 40 further includes a locknut 44 threaded onstandard 36 above primary nut 42 and a locking O-ring 46 received onstandard 36 between locknut 44 and primary nut 42. A finger 48 isrigidly secured to locknut 44 and extends laterally there from toprovide means for manually releasing nut 44 without the need forauxiliary tools.

A caster wheel 50 is attached to the lowermost end of standard 36 byswivel means 52 which permits free rotation of wheel 50 about thevertical axis of standard 36.

In use, the caster wheel units 20 will be disposed in one of the threepositions shown in FIG. 2. For example, wheel 50 may be disposedlaterally of nozzle 16 as shown in the full-line position of FIG. 2, andif it is. desired to move wheel 50 to either of the dashed-linepositions of FIG. 2, cotter key 34 is removed from opening 26 and arm 28lifted upwardly to release sleeve 30 from post 22 whereby it may then berotated in either direction to be re-telescoped onto post 22 and lockedthereon by re-insertion of cotter key 34. Therefore, it will beappreciated that wheel 50 has three preselected positions correspondingto the possible fittings of square sleeve 30 on square post 22. Wheel 50may be positioned rearwardly of nozzle 16 since the latterextendsoutwardly and downwardly from fan housing 14 as shown best in FIG. 2,leaving a space for receiving wheel 50 and its corresponding arm 28.

Since wheels 50 may be quickly and easily placed in preselectedpositions with respect to the nozzle by our novel mechanism, vacuumcleaner 10 is adapted for a variety of uses. By positioning wheel 50rearwardly or forwardly of nozzle 16, the over-all width of vacuumcleaner 10 will be minimized to allow accessibility of vacuum cleaner 10to relatively narrow spaces such as presented by aisles and passagesaround crates and the like in industrial plants.

If wheels 50 are positioned rearwardly or laterally of nozzle 16, vacuumcleaner 10 is then also well adapted for vacuuming surfaces adjacentwalls or the like since the forward edge of nozzle 16 can then be movedinto close proximity to a wall. This would be impossible if wheels 50were positioned forwardly of nozzle 16. Thus, when the vacuum cleaner isbeing used for inside work over relatively smooth surfaces positioningof the front wheels rearwardly of the nozzle obtains both of theforegoing advantages and obtains the best possible cleaning results.

It is, however, often desired to use the industrial vacuum cleaneroutside of a building such as in streets, alleys, and on lawns or otherunpaved areas for collecting cans, leaves and other debris. For suchoperations, the vacuum cleaner must move over relatively rough surfacesand often irregular terrain. In such case, if the front wheels werepositioned rearwardly of the nozzle, the latter would not be supportedfrom hitting raised portions of the surface or digging into the surfaceor the ground when the vacuum cleaner is moved over a depression, holeor the like. Our assembly obviates this disadvantage by allowingshifting of each of the wheels 50 forwardly or laterally of nozzle 16 asdesired, whereby the latter will then be better supported for movementupwardly or downwardly with the wheels as they encounter suchdepressions or raised pOrtiOns in the surface over which the cleanermust operate. Again, if it is desired to move the forward edge of nozzle16 in close proximity to a wall, yet the roughness of the terrainrequires support for the nozzle further forward than is provided whenthe wheels 50 are in their rearmost positions, wheels 50 should bepositioned laterally rather than forwardly of nozzle 16. This permitsoperation of nozzle 16 up against and near to obstructions, yet supportsthe nozzle to prevent it from digging into the ground.

Thus, it will be appreciated that a vacuum cleaner with our wheelassembly is a highly versatile machine, easily and quickly adapted foruse either inside or outside of buildings, as well as for cleaningsurfaces in close proximity to walls or other obstructions. Wheels 50may be positively locked in any one of three preselected positions, eachrequired for certain operational conditions, due to the novel squaresleeve and post design which precludes rotational slipping of the sleeveon the post as the vacuum cleaner is used.

Releasable mechanism 40 is provided so that nozzle 16 of vacuum cleanermay be adjusted in height with respect to the surface being cleanedwhereby the vacuum cleaner will be adapted to clean surfaces coveredwith various types and sizes of material and also to compensate for therelative roughness of the surface being cleaned.

To operate mechanism 40, locknut 44 is loosened from primary nut 42 bymanually applying pressure to finger 48 to rotate locknut 40 on standard36. If it is desired to lower nozzle 16 of vacuum cleaner 10 withrespect to the surface therebeneath, locknut 44 must be rotated to moveupwardly by an increment substantially equal to the desired lowering ofnozzle 16. The exact increment of movement of locknut 44 will varyslightly, depending upon the particular position of wheel 50. Standard36 is then rotated within primary nut 42 until the latter is tightenedagainst locknut 40 with O-ring 46 clamped therebetween. A knob 54 may beprovided at the uppermost end of standard 36 for conveniently rotatingthe same.

The importance of O-ring 46 to the high degree of flexibility ofoperational characteristics of the vacuum cleaner should not beoverlooked. The compressibility of the O-ring between nut 42 and locknut44 provides the frictional engagement which secures the nuts againstrelative rotation and against rotation on standard 36. Yet, this tightfrictional lock can be achieved manually by the operator of cleaner 10without any need whatsoever for wrenches or other hand tools. Thispermits the operator to change, during cleaning operations, the verticaladjustment of wheels 50 with respect to the nozzle to adapt the cleanerto the terrain and to achieve the best possible cleaning results.Further, such frictional engagement, because of the compressibility ofO-ring 46, is easily disengaged by the operator for re-adjustment, againwith no necessity for tools.

To raise nozzle 16 of vacuum cleaner 10, locknut 44 is loosened fromprimary nut 42 and standard 36 is then rotated to cause primary nut 42to move downwardly thereon. Locknut 44 is then rotated to move the samedownwardly until it clamps against primary nut 42 with the O-ringtherebetween, the O-ring frictionally engaging both nuts and alsopossibly being squeezed to engage the standard 36. It will beappreciated that locknut 44 cannot inadvertently work loose during useof the vacuum cleaner because of this frictional engagement.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner provided with a number of wheel and axleassemblies supporting the same and having a fan housing terminating in adownwardly and forwardly extending, transversely elongated nozzle, saidassemblies including a caster wheel unit adjacent each outermost andforwardmost end respectively of said nozzle, each unit including: a

an upstanding post rigid to the nozzle;

an arm extending laterally from the post;

an upstanding standard secured to the outermost end of the arm;

a caster wheel at the lowermost end of the standard;

means attaching the wheel to the standard for swiveling movement aboutthe vertical axis of the standard; and

releasable structure attaching the arm to the post in a number ofpositions therearound whereby the caster wheel may be selectivelypositioned forwardly, rear wardly or laterally of the nozzle.

2. The invention of claim 1, said structure including:

a sleeve on the post,

said sleeve and said post having complemental interengaging polygonalsurfaces.

3. In a vacuum cleaner provided with a number of wheel and axleassemblies supporting the same and having a fan housing terminating in adownwardly and forwardly extending, transversely elongated nozzle, saidassemblies including a caster wheel unit adjacent each outermost andforwardmost end respectively of said nozzle, each unit including:

an upstanding post rigid to the nozzle;

an arm extending laterally from the post;

an upstanding standard at the outermost end of the arm;

a caster wheel at the lowermost end of the standard;

means attaching the wheel to the standard for swiveling movement aboutthe vertical axis of the standard;

releasable mechanism for securing the arm to the standard in any numberof preselected positions along the vertical length of the standard; and

releasable structure attaching the arm to the post in a number ofpositions therearound whereby the caster wheel may be selectivelypositioned forwardly, rearwardly or laterally of the nozzle.

4. The invention of claim 3, said mechanism including:

a primary nut rigid to the arm;

said standard being screw-threaded into the unit;

a locknut on the standard; and

a locking ring on the standard clamped between the nuts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,193,784 3/1940 Smith l53402,824,335 2/1958 Motfat 15-354 X 3,184,777 5/1965 Norden 15354 X FOREIGNPATENTS 767,420 2/1957 Great Britain.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A VACUUM CLEANER PROVIDED WITH A NUMBER OF WHEEL AND AXLEASSEMBLIES SUPPORTING THE SAME AND HAVING A FAN HOUSING TERMINATING IN ADOWNWARDLY AND FORWARDLY EXTENDING, TRANSVERSELY ELONGATED NOZZLE,ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING A CASTER WHEEL UNIT ADJACENT EACH OUTERMOST ANDFORWARDMOST END RESPECTIVELY OF SAID NOZZLE, EACH UNIT INCLUDING: ANUPSTANDING POST RIGID TO THE NOZZLE; AN ARM EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM THEPOST; AN UPSTANDING STANDARD SECURED TO THE OUTERMOST END OF THE ARM; ACASTER WHEEL AT THE LOWERMOST END OF THE STANDARD; MEANS ATTACHING THEWHEEL TO THE STANDARD FOR SWIVELING MOVEMENT ABOUT THE VERTICAL AXIS OFTHE STANDARD; AND RELEASABLE STRUCTURE ATTACHING THE ARM TO THE POST INA NUMBER OF POSITIONS THEREAROUND WHEREBY THE CASTER WHEEL MAY BESELECTIVELY POSITIONED FORWARDLY, REARWARDLY OR LATERALLY OF THE NOZZLE.